Author: Source

By Colleen O’Connor

It is easy to find despair among so many headlines about new COVID variants (Omicron); mass casualty events; sinister, incompetent, corrupt politicians, bankers, ministers, and institutions.

It is easy to complain, nag, give up and be aggrieved as a way of life.

It is especially easy to note all of America’s many legitimate woes; massive economic and social inequalities; inflation; labor shortages; ignorance, all amid this fourth industrial revolution that few can comprehend, let alone manage to navigate smoothly.

By Kathy Blavatt,

Photos by Kathy & Cartoons by Ray Blavatt

As we join our loved ones, we can feel thankful this Thanksgiving 2021!

As crazy as the world has gotten, we still have our beaches and our wonderful community fighting for trees. The closest we came this year to fires were the blazing sunsets.

I am thankful to those that try to change the world for the better. There are innovators with new farm methods that can bring positive environmental changes. These solutions make so much sense.

By Colleen O’Connor

Expecting family and friends to arrive this week in anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday?

A sure way to guarantee they enjoy their stay, besides the beach, the bay, the dinners, and the weather, is a hidden gem in Balboa Park: The Japanese Friendship Garden.

The garden is tucked away in Balboa Park, under lush vegetation, with meandering paths across bridges, alongside waterfalls that spill into fabulous Koi ponds. This park also hosts art exhibitions, Bonsai pavilions and currently, a textile exhibit of fine fabrics, as well as magnificent matrimonial Kimonos.

By Diane Bell / San Diego Union-Tribune / Nov. 20, 2021

An Ocean Beach landmark has closed forever.

Willie’s Shoe Shine, a tiny shed in the parking lot of Mallory’s furniture store on Newport Avenue, has shut its single door.

“Shoeshine” Willie Washington officially has retired. For as many as five decades the retired Marine, now in his mid-80s, has either worked in Ocean Beach in a shoe repair store or run his own drive-by/walk-by business out of a parking lot shed.

He grew into a legend and an icon and even has been referred to as the unofficial mayor of O.B. Willie, as everyone calls him, always has a smile and a kind word and seems to know everyone, their children and their kids’ children. “He’s been a mainstay on Newport for decades,” recalls Frank Gormlie, publisher of the “OB Rag,”

Great design isn’t done quickly or cheaply

By Roger Showley / November 18, 2021

Regarding the U-T article about the Ocean Beach Library expansion moves ahead; some want more input” (Nov. 14):

I grew up with the Ocean Beach Library as my branch. To a child it was a place of wonder and inspiration. I find the proposed addition to be a thoughtless, design-challenged and placeless project.

The staff believe an in-house plan will save time and $400,000 in outside architectural fees. But judging by recent city projects, like the Balboa Park West Mesa restrooms, expedited design results in Onions not Orchids.

By Edwin Decker

Dear Ed, Can you tell me how long should I let a friend crash at my house? A friend of mine is going through a divorce and has been sleeping on my couch for about a month now. Do you think that’s long enough or is it my obligation to let him stay longer? I want him to leave, but I fear that asking will damage the friendship.

Sincerely, Katy from Connecticut

Dear Katy, ah yes, the age-old question: What’s the statute of limitations on crashing?

Well, it depends on multiple variables such as how close the friend is, how respectful are they of your space, what is your tolerance level and other factors.

Given that I don’t know the particulars of your situation, I have developed a formula for you – or anyone – to apply. I call it the Crashing Friend Eviction Deadline Calculator

By Anupa Asokan / Op-Ed / San Diego Union-Tribune / Nov. 12, 2021

This summer I was determined to catch a fish called the California corbina. Corbina don’t really carry the clout that comes with reeling in fish like yellowtail or white seabass prized by Southern California anglers, but I’m drawn to corbina partly out of nostalgia since they are related to the red drum I grew up catching in the Gulf of Mexico, and mostly because they are easier to get to. I could fish for them right off the beach without a boat.

I’m a fisherwoman and my days are focused on advancing ocean conservation,

From SOHO Newsletter – November/December 2021

By Dr. Lillian Faderman, Charles Kaminski and Bruce Coons

LGBTQ+ history, like the history of other underrepresented communities, has been frequently overlooked. That history has not been considered worthy of consideration or important in the development of our nation and our city. This is because historically, “homosexuals” were deemed criminals and deviants to the law, sinners to the church, mentally ill to the medical profession and often rejected by our own families. But in LGBTQ+ spaces we not only found a home and a new family, we also formed a community that made it possible for us to wage our successful fight for the civil rights due to all Americans.

by Sal Mineo (@snackdiego)

Hi again, everyone. We are so fortunate here in Ocean Beach. Any day, any time (within reason, it’s still San Diego), an impressive collection of options to snack, sip, slurp, nosh, nibble, graze, guzzle – you get my drift – are within walking distance.

There are so many talented folks keeping us satiated, caffeinated and hydrated; and sure you may get friendly with a few of them at your regular spots, usually the front of the house hosts and servers.

I think it’s equally important to know those behind the scenes – the chefs, cooks, bakers, baristas, brewers, drink shakers, fry guys, taqueros, the list goes on – and sometimes they are all that plus they own the joint. I hope to get to know some and share them with you.

Let’s get into some table talk with Anna Santos Hamilton, the chef\ owner of a relative newcomer to OB, Starfish Eatery.

By Geoff Page

The Newport palms got their day – or rather their 10 minutes – in court Tuesday, November 9, as reported here in The OB Rag. The main reason why the effort failed was that the plaintiffs in the legal complaint, John and Tracy Van De Walker, did not own the trees. It was stated that these trees are on “city owned” property.”

Think about that for a minute. What the law is saying is the city, separate from its citizens, owns property that it can do with as it pleases and the citizens have no say. It sounds as if the judge was saying these trees are on someone else’s property as if the city was a private property owner.

By Norma Damashek / NumbersRunner / Nov. 9, 2021

Take a long look at the outcome of San Diego’s 2010 Redistricting Commission process. You’ll be impressed by the success of that former Commission in drawing boundary lines for our City Council districts that have enabled San Diegans to elect a range of culturally diverse leaders in our nine council districts. We now have what is popularly designated as a Black District (D4), an Asian District (D6), a Gay District (D3), and two Latino Districts (D8, D9).